The action of some ergot derivatives, mescaline and dibenamine on the metabolism of separated mammalian cerebral tissues

Abstract

Dihydro-ergotamine methanesulfonate, lysergic acid diethylamide, mescaline sulfate, ergotoxine ethanesulfonate and dibenamine hydrochloride were examined for effect on respiration and formation of lactic acid by preparations of guinea pig cerebral cortex in glucose-saline media. These processes in the normal tissue were not very sensitive to the added agents, but on stimulation by electrical pulses became much more sensitive, inhibition being observed with mescaline at 10-3 [image] and with the ergot derivatives and dibenamine at 10-5 [image], these concentrations in several cases being one-thirtieth of those which affected metabolism in the absence of pulses. Dependence of inhibition on the type of pulse applied was not demonstrated. Agents within the range of concentrations in which they were effective, inhibited to similar degrees both respiration and glycolysis. No difference in the sensitivity of respiration to added agents was observed when glucose was replaced as substrate by lactic acid, pyruvic acid, alpha-oxoglutaric acid or glutamic acid. The effect of dihydroergotamine was not prevented by the simultaneous presence of epinephrine, nor that of lysergic acid diethylamide by 5-hydroxytryptamine.